The Coast of Bays in Central Newfoundland is an “off the beaten path” experience; it’s as far south on Route 360 as you can go. This area of the island was a place I was eager to explore, to check out the hiking opportunities and to spend time in the wild nature of rural Newfoundland.

As a former touring actor and comedian, I’ve spent my fair share of time in hotel rooms. And, don’t get me wrong, hotels are great places to stay – I mean, they clean your room every day. How can you not love that? But, sometimes you just want to experience something different. Something a little left of centre.

The crowd is hopping from foot to foot—kids blowing whistles; grown-ups blowing steam from coffee cups. It’s a July day masquerading as October, and I’m on the Government Wharf in Joe Batt’s Arm, waiting for the Great Fogo Island Punt Race to There and Back to begin.

The sun on your face, the wind in your hair and ocean as far as the eye can see - it was the perfect summer day in Newfoundland. Zip up your survival suit and hop aboard - it's time to get up close and personal with nature, courtesy of O'Brien's Whale & Bird Tours.

I’m in a field bordered by rocks and ocean on Change Islands, off the northeast coast of Newfoundland, petting a couple of ponies called Angel and Lily. These two get along great now, but they got off to a rough start.

You could say Dee Jay Charters knows a thing or two about adventure on the water – this summer marks their 25th year sailing through the famous St. John’s Narrows. Whales, bergs, birds – they’ve seen it all, and today I hopped aboard to experience their unique brand of tour for myself.

The game of “golf” is about to change in Newfoundland and Labrador as Clovelly introduces the first FootGolf course east of New Brunswick! Curious? Read on and discover exactly how to navigate a golf course… with a soccer ball.

With so many coastlines and so many beautiful panoramic vistas, the visitor to Newfoundland and Labrador has a very good problem: where can one find the best sunrise and sunset? This question will elicit as many answers as there are islands to rise over and inlets to set down in. That said, it is really hard to beat the sunrise over Placentia Bay and the sunset across Fortune Bay.

Every fall several cruise ship itineraries include Corner Brook as a port of call so that passengers can see the fall splendor in Newfoundland. These cruise ships often travel between Quebec City and Boston and make several stops so that passengers can see the best fall colours in each province or state. And generally Corner Brook is their main stop in Newfoundland since this part of the province has scenic fall colours. But you don’t have to take an expensive cruise ship to Newfoundland to see this autumn brilliance. You can simply board a Marine Atlantic ferry from North Sidney to Port aux Basques and then drive north for 2.5 hours to Corner Brook and the Humber Valley. Here you can easily create your own itinerary and depending on your interest you can explore by car, foot , bicycle and even by kayak.

Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the dark mouth of a sea cave? Are you curious about the mysterious creatures that live within? Ocean Quest Adventure Resort has added a new offering to their Close Encounter Tours: 2 guides, 3 hours, 4 boats, 8 lights, 12 people, and 24 fins – it’s time to go swimming in the dark!

Newfoundland and Labrador has a wealth of great hiking trails, some of the best in the world. There’s something special about the trails that head to the top of a hill. They provide a definite sense of accomplishment, even on the most modest ascents, and they will supply spectacular views of the surrounding towns and landscapes. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but these are four of our favourites in Eastern Newfoundland. And they may not be Mount Everest, but they’ll make you feel like you’re on top of the world!

I never win things. It’s not from a lack of trying, because believe me I try. In fact, I try harder than most. Here’s why: I love free stuff – doesn’t matter how big or how small, if it’s free, it’s fantastic. A couple of weeks ago, Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism held a giveaway during their annual Whale Week celebration – the prize was a massive whale-watching excursion for two, compliments of Air Canada and Maxxim Vacations.

It was another beautiful, sunny day in the capital city as I donned my life jacket and skirt for a kayaking adventure with The Outfitters. Had I already been kayakingtwice this summer? You betcha! Was this trip just like the others? Absolutely not. This was unlike any tour I had experienced. I’m talking middle of the ocean, paddling into sea caves, being followed by whales – this was Newfoundland adventure at it’s finest.

St. John's is a city perched on the edge of nature, surrounded by scenic beauty, dramatic coastlines and wildlife. I decided to grab my picnic blanket and basket and perch myself at some of our top destinations. Join me as I explore our colourful capital city:

The roar of the engine cuts out and everything is silent. I hold my breath and scan the waters for a sign of life. Suddenly a glistening black and white tail flicks up and into view. “Go! Go! Go!” screams the Skipper and I plunge into the icy waters. As I swim I look through my mask into the deep and see a giant directly below me – there’s no turning back now, I’m swimming with humpbacks.